Have you adopted your problem?

What problem are you trying to solve right now? Today? I believe that the problems that tend to linger on are those which haven’t been “adopted” by anyone. 

Adoption is a strong word. Especially when talking about adopting a child. If you focus your thinking on the concept for even 30 seconds the all-encompassing weight of such a decision becomes clearer. You will surely begin to think of time, money and lots and lots of care and deep emotional investment.

I have many friends who are foster parents which has led to adoption in many cases. These friends of mine have decided to take FULL responsibility for these precious children. Once they make that decision, their lives become fully intertwined as the often helpless child is now safe in the care of capable and committed hands. And often, this comes with an array of problems, conflicts and sacrifice to the new parents. All of the medical, emotional and other challenges that often accompany foster children are now fully owned by someone capable of navigating through them. 

TO BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR: I’m NOT saying children are problems! I’m setting the framework for the responsibility and effectiveness of those who choose to adopt. 

All of us have problems. In our vocation, in our relationships, with our health and with others. Call them challenges if it suits you better. I’m calling them problems…think “math problem”…something which requires solving. Something that surely won’t solve itself and will likely worsen without attention. 

With those concepts in mind, I’ve begun asking myself, “Have you adopted the problem?” 

Its easy to pass the responsibility for a problem to others. Especially when you are working on a team. ESPECIALLY if you are in charge and have yet to adopt the results. This is an inherent human problem and has been the case since the beginning. Like, I’m talking Adam and Eve. 

Basically, Eve handed Adam the forbidden fruit, and Adam ate it. Eventually, God shows up and asks Adam why he did that. How did Adams answer begin? (this is SO rich). “The woman that YOU gave me gave it to me” He blamed God! Eve went on to blame the serpent…classic. Adam did NOT adopt the problem of his own. He was the responsible part. 

Back to the 21st century. 

As the CEO of an organization, its all my fault. I truly mean it. We operate in two areas which are in the middle of HUGE transition; the automotive industry and creative media production. The margin of error is closing in on every company in these industries and rapid adoption of problems in our organization is more critical than ever. 

As our organization is growing and we are going through different stages, I’ve begun to own our weaknesses in a very personal way. Strangely enough, they reflect my personal weaknesses and I’ve done a poor job of creating an environment of capable people and systems that will hedge our organization against them. Those days are over. I’ve made the decision to fully adopt the problem. 

The truth is that until the problems are adopted as your own, they won’t get solved. They will create an increasing level of pain, confusion and in the end will stifle the growth of all parties attached to it. That last one is just unacceptable to me and should be unacceptable to any leader who cares about their people. 

So I ask, which problems need adoption? How long are you going to wait? 

Thank you for reading! I hope you find some more CLARITY as a result. Please reach out if I can help in any way.

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